Training & Education Programs

Training Resources for Youth (TRY)

When young people are not adequately prepared for independent living, they find the transition into adulthood very difficult. They often lack the necessary skills to find and keep a job or return to school. Training Resources for Youth can help.

TERF is an education, prevention, transition and holistic healing initiative for children, women and transgender individuals who have been, or are at risk of being, sexually exploited. TERF assists to stabilize living situations, promote healthy lifestyles and build confidence and self-esteem.

Alternative Solutions consists of 6 separate Day Programs providing daily activities including recreation, education, and work experience opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities and/or a mental health diagnosis at the Program site and in the surrounding community. Each Sub-Program has a unique focus and supports Participants from a variety of cultural backgrounds, with a wide variety of abilities and individual goals.

In September of 2004, the Kriya (meaning action and awareness) Program was established. Alternative Solutions management designed a program that would address the sensory needs of participants from Teragy, Transition, and S.A.I.D. Programs who were demonstrating difficulty coping with the busy, stimulating environments at those Programs that were causing increased anxiety and behavioural issues. Environmental concerns were addressed in the development of the new Program including: lighting, sound, space, and specific individual sensory and/or activity programming. A Sensory Processing assessment is conducted by the Day Services’ Occupational Therapist to assist in deciding if the program can meet the participant’s needs. Individualized treatment protocols are designed to target the participant’s sensory processing difficulties which are then implemented. Staff to participant ratio will remain low in order to continue to provide supports and address the needs of this population. Staff receives specific training in sensory processing disorders, autism and sensory treatment protocols. In addition, consultation with the program’s Occupational Therapist is ongoing.

Teragy (symbolizing strength and wisdom), is the original program that began as the Services to Multi-Handicapped (S.M.H.) Day Program with New Directions in 1988. The program provides a safe environment for individuals with intellectual disabilities while maintaining or improving upon basic living skills, choice-making, and appropriate social initiation and interaction. The Teragy Program has also implemented a sensory program to assist participants with managing their environment, their behavioral issues, and to learn relaxation techniques.

Teragy is a group-based program therefore most activities are carried out using this model. A 1 to 3 staff to participant ratio varies based on many factors including the nature of the activity, individual behaviors, physical abilities and individual preferences. One-on-one facilitation for specific programming is also a component of this Day Program. All staff have received training in order to maintain a safe environment and to address specific individual and group needs.

The Transition Program has been in existence since 1997. It originally developed as an outreach program designed to integrate adults with intellectual disabilities who were not attending day services. The focus of the program changed rapidly as Participants wanted to continue attending our drop in location versus transitioning to alternate programs. As a result the Transition Program expanded to a Day Program setting and accepts referrals from all sources. Staff to participant ratio is typically 1:4, however Participants who require intensive supports due to specific sensory and/or high behavioral needs are also included within the Program structure. An individual assessment and program plan is designed using a collaborative approach with the Participant, families, care-providers/residential Staff and Day Service Staff. All staff have received specific training in sensory processing disorders and Autism in addition to behavioral and sensory treatment protocols.

Social and Interactive Development (S.A.I.D.) has been in existence since 1998 and was formerly known as the Community Education Program. This program was founded with the intent of offering individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health concerns a wide range of educational and work experience opportunities. Structure of the program was designed to focus on life skill training and social skill development rather than a typical classroom instruction format. It was at this time the Community Education Program incorporated participant driven components and the new name of S.A.I.D. Staff to participant ratio is typically 1:4. An individual assessment and program plan is designed using a collaborative approach with the client, families, care-providers and day service staff.

Milestones Program has been in existence since September 2004. It was created to expand the Social and Interactive Development Program (S.A.I.D.), which had a large waiting list and had grown past its capacity. Milestones provides a variety of programming for adults with intellectual disabilities and specializes in working with participants that have a dual diagnosis, although the program is not exclusive to people with mental health issues.

Staff to participant ratio is typically 1:5 however staff often accompany participants to a job site to supervise one or more participants. An individual assessment and program plan is designed using a collaborative approach with the participant, families, care-providers and day service staff. All staff have received training in sensory processing disorders, autism, schizophrenia, behavioral and sensory treatment protocols.

The Diversity, Respect, Empowerment, Achievement, & More (D.R.E.A.&M.) Program was the result of a request received by Alternative Solutions in 2002 from Community Services to submit a proposal outlining a service plan for Deaf adult Participants with intellectual disabilities who were graduating from Manitoba School for the Deaf. The Participants at D.R.E.A.&M. have a wide range of abilities and support needs, but they are all tied together by their involvement in the Deaf Community and their common language.

Staff to participant ratio is typically 1:4 to provide supports and address the needs of the participants. All staff are required to be fluent in American Sign Language, possess knowledge and experience with intellectual disabilities, and be aware of services for Hard of Hearing and Deaf participants.

Each component facilitates greater independence and integration through recreation, academic, vocational instruction, work experience placements and competitive employment when possible. All programs are interdependent to provide facility and community base supports.